Where to Get a Leopard Gecko?

Leopard geckos are fairly popular reptilian pets, so they shouldn't be difficult to find. However, where is the best place to get a leopard gecko and how do you pick out the healthiest gecko to bring home? This page will go over everything you need to know about finding the perfect leopard gecko.

Where to Get a Leopard Gecko

Since leopard geckos are fairly popular, there will always be leopard geckos available. But where exactly is the best place to get a leopard gecko? We have highlighted the most popular places people get leopard geckos below:

Pet Stores
Leopard geckos are common reptile pets most pet stores will carry them or be able to recommend a place to find them. However, pet stores will generally not have a wide range of leopard gecko morphs Learn about the different types, colors, and patterns of leopard geckos. available (different sizes, colors, patterns, etc.), so you will not have the selection that breeders will have. You may also have a concern about the leopard gecko's sleep cycle being interrupted since leopard geckos are nocturnal and pet stores are busiest during the day, the leopard geckos you get from a pet store may have an irregular sleep cycle. Lastly, you don't know how well the leopard geckos are cared for at pet stores. They could have been cared for by an experienced herpetologist, or by someone completely inexperienced with reptiles.

BreedersLeopard gecko breeders are fairly popular and are great places to get healthy and beautifully colored geckos. Most breeders have several years of experience and have a deep interest in their reptiles so you will most likely receive an extremely healthy gecko with paperwork documenting their age and specific morphs (if you intend on breeding your gecko yourself). However, breeders are generally more expensive and if you want a particular morph you may have to search for a breeder that's familiar with that morph.

Reptile RescuesReptile rescues are another great place to get leopard geckos. Not only will you be bettering the life of the leopard gecko you're adopting, but you will also give the rescue more room to save another reptile's life. The disadvantages of getting a gecko from a reptile rescue Find a reptile rescue near you. is that he/she may have been rescued from a neglected home, which could make it more difficult for people inexperienced with reptiles to manage.

Classified Ads
Many people will receive leopard geckos as gifts or may decide they aren't the right pet for them and will sell leopard geckos (and sometimes entire habitats) for very good prices. You can occasionally find an owner that just wants to make sure the gecko is going to a good home and will give you a great deal. There have been some stories of people getting free leopard geckos from classified ads.

Choosing A Healthy Leopard Gecko

When you do go and look for a leopard gecko, you will want to make sure you're getting a healthy gecko. After all, the average leopard gecko lifespan See what the average and max lifespan of leopard geckos is. is 20+ years old and you don't want to get a leopard gecko that could potentially have health problems (unless you're rescuing a gecko and are prepared for the responsibility required to care for sick geckos). Below is a list of things to look for to find the healthiest gecko.

See also:

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